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Hajj Ali Maktabi was born and raised in Iran up until the age
of eleven, when his father's death changed his fate forever. The young Ali
Maktabi began his journey with his family to what was then called "Bilad
Asham". He entered adult life relatively early, taking over the
responsibilities of a budding salesman. He traveled around flourishing cities
and villages like Damascus, Homos and Halab respectively.
Commercial business began to grow, and at age Fourteen he took a
leap into Beirut, the "Civilized", "Cosmopolitan" City that symbolized a
balance between East and West. The Beiruties were an aesthetic people,
appreciating Art and handicrafts, especially the exotic Persian carpets that
Ali Maktabi chose. He opened his first store in Beirut, Lebanon at
the age of sixteen, in Allenbi Street, located in the downtown Area.
Four Years later, at age twenty, he opened a second store in the free zone area
of Beirut's port. In 1968, the opening of a third branch was launched in
Raouche, a larger store that would encompass more space, goods and work
from the growing sons of Ali Maktabi who would soon take over. In 1975,
another branch was opened in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where the six sons,
up until today, take turns at managing the business.
Over
the course of these decades, the Maktabi's themselves have refined their
knowledge in the craft, having custom made carpets produced exclusively for
them. They have come to understand the essential differences in composition,
weaving, mending, coloring, and dyes used in the making of an exotic "speaks
for itself" handmade carpet. |
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